What Is Sexual Anorexia?

Sexual Anorexia Defined

Sexual Anorexia Defined

Sexual anorexia is having little or no desire for sexual
contact. Anorexia means “interrupted appetite.” People who have sexual anorexia
actively avoid, fear or dread sexual intimacy. Inhibited sexual desire, sexual
avoidance, and sexual aversion are phrases that describe the same condition.
Sexual anorexia can include problems such as impotence in men, but often there
is no physical cause. Both men and women can suffer from sexual anorexia.

Symptoms

Symptoms

The main symptom of sexual anorexia is a lack of sexual
desire or interest. A person with sexual anorexia may also show fear and anger
when the subject of sex comes up. Slovenian physician Dr.
Sanja Rozman explained at
the 2011 Global Addiction Conference that someone with sexual anorexia can
become obsessed with avoiding sex to the point that it “dominates one’s life.”

Causes

Causes

Both physical and emotional problems can lead to sexual
anorexia in some people.

Physical causes can include:

hormone
imbalances

recent
childbirth

breastfeeding

medication
use

exhaustion

Common emotional causes of sexual anorexia are:

sexual
abuse and rape

negative
attitude toward sex

strict
religious upbringing in relation to sex

communication
problems

power
struggles with a partner or loved one

Diagnosis

Diagnosis

Sexual anorexia can be difficult to diagnose. There is no
single test to identify the condition. Blood tests can show hormone levels that
might interfere with libido. Talk therapy with a counselor, psychiatrist, or
sex therapist can also help diagnose severe lack of sexual desire.

Medical Treatment

Medical Treatment

Hormone therapy is an effective form of treatment for some
people with sexual anorexia. Adults who suffer from inhibited sexual desire
because of low testosterone or estrogen levels may benefit from medical
treatment. This can be especially helpful for men with lack of sexual interest
related to erectile dysfunction. Menopausal women with low desire may also
benefit from hormone replacement therapy to help boost libido.

Therapy

Therapy

The emotional side of sexual anorexia needs to be treated
too. Couples counseling, relationship
training, and sessions with a sex therapist are all options to consider.
Conflict resolution can play a positive role in treating problems with sexual
desire. People who were brought up thinking that sex is wrong, as well as
people who have suffered from sexual trauma, can work through their past issues
with a trusted professional in an effort to gain a healthy attitude toward sex.

Sexual Anorexia and Pornography

Sexual Anorexia and Pornography

The availability of online pornography may be
linked to sexual anorexia in some cases. Researchers from the Italian
Society of Andrology and Sexual Medicine (SIAMS) studied more than 28,000
Italian men. They found that looking at vast amounts of porn from early
adolescence eventually caused the men to feel detached and uninterested in
real-life sexual situations.

Sexual Anorexia Vs. Sexual Addiction

Sexual Anorexia Vs. Sexual Addiction

Some people with sexual
anorexia go through cycles where they experience symptoms of sexual addiction
as well. Dr. Patrick Carnes, author of Sexual
Anorexia: Overcoming Sexual Self-Hatred, explains that in many people,
sexual anorexia and sexual addiction come from the same belief system. Think of
it as two sides of the same coin. The need to be in control one’s life, the
feelings of despair, and preoccupation with sex are present in both conditions.
Sex addicts are too compulsive and promiscuous to take control and deal with
the negativity in their lives. The difference is that sexual anorexics gain the
control they crave by rejecting sex.

Outlook

Outlook

The outlook for people with sexual anorexia varies greatly.
The medical half of the equation can be relatively easy to fix. But the deep
psychological component of sexual anorexia can be difficult—and time consuming—to
treat. Many centers that deal with sexual addiction have treatment programs for
sexual anorexia too. Keeping the lines of communication open can help prevent
your partner from feeling rejected. Focusing on nonsexual affection and touch
may help couples work through an inhibited sex drive with feelings of hope for
the future.

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